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Man slams Norwich parking lot because of accessibility through Iceland

Released:
8:00 a.m. December 24, 2021

A wheelchair user slammed a parking lot operator after unable to reach his vehicle because the only accessible entrance in a supermarket was closed.

Simon Sansome said he found it “ridiculous” when he returned to an NCP parking lot after a show at the Norwich Theater Royal and was unable to access his modified Ford Galaxy.

NCP car park on St. Stephens Street in Norwich.
– Credit: Google Maps

The parking lot on St. Stephens Street is advertised as wheelchair friendly, but the only entrance and exit is via an elevator in the Icelandic supermarket.

But when he got to the parking lot around 9.45pm on Friday, December 17th, Iceland was closed.

The film and television producer, who is currently working on a spin-off from The Bill called Sun Hill, said, “I came to Norwich to see my friend Graham Cole, who plays a role in Dick Whittington and his cat – He has agreed to return as a PC Tony Stamp as one of the main characters in Sun Hill.

TV producer Simon Sansome with actor Graham Cole who played Tony Stamp on The Bill as PC.

TV producer Simon Sansome with actor Graham Cole who played Tony Stamp on The Bill as PC.
– Photo credit: Simon Sansome

“When I got back to the parking lot, I thought there would be an entrance or an exit somewhere, but it wasn’t.

“Fortunately we lived in the Travel Lodge next to the parking lot, but if I had to get to my car I would have had to call the police.

“It’s the most bizarre and inaccessible place I’ve ever met. It was ridiculous. ”

Simon Sansome had to wait overnight to access his vehicle as an NCP parking lot on St. Stephens Street

Simon Sansome had to wait overnight to get to his vehicle as the NCP car park on St. Stephens Street in Norwich was only wheelchair accessible via Iceland.
– Photo credit: Simon Sansome

Mr. Sansome, who was forced to shorten his night, could not access his car until the next morning.

In response to his complaints, an NCP spokesman apologized “variously,” saying the signage warning customers of the elevator’s availability had been removed.

They added, “Our Iceland-connected car park closes at 9pm and has two elevators.

“You drive across Iceland, so you can only use it during opening hours, it is handicapped-friendly.

“Our second lift can be used at any time, but it has one step and so may not be suitable for all handicaps.

“We’re going to be replacing the sign back where it was taken, but it still means the second elevator is not fully accessible in the hours between the store closes and the car park closes.”

TV producer Simon Sansome (center) with actor Graham Cole (right) who played Tony Stamp on The Bill as PC.

TV producer Simon Sansome (center) with actor Graham Cole (right) who played Tony Stamp on The Bill as PC.
– Photo credit: Simon Sansome

After that ordeal, Mr Sansome said the parking lot should not be advertised as accessible.

“From my point of view, they shouldn’t have handicapped parking spaces there because it’s only part-time,” he added.

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